Wiper intermittently operating device

ABSTRACT

An intermittently operating wiper device wherein periodically and intermittently wiping operation is produced by adding a circuit containing: a) a lagging relay which is provided in a wiping mechanism intermittently activated by being heated and cooled by the intermission of an adjustable heating current, and b) an intermittently wiping switch having ON, OFF contacts or ON contact, to a circuit having a wiper motor connected to the wellknown wiper switch, and an auto-stop relay controlled by said wiper motor. The invention also includes improvements in the lagging relay used in said intermittently operating device.

United States Patent Hatsugai et a].

[451 Feb. 12,1974

WIPER INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING DEVICE Inventors: Akitomi Hatsugai;Kazuyuki Ishida,

both of Kiryu, Japan Assignee: Mitsubadenkiseisakusho Co., Ltd.,

Gunma-Prefecture, Japan Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 App]. No.: 189,938

2,828,460 3/1958 Contant et a1. 3l8/DlG. 2 3,091,128 5/1963 Rees et al.318/D1G. 2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 805,619 '11/1936 France 337/138 PrimaryExaminer-Bernard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-F. E. Bell Attorney,Agent, or FirmFidelman, Wolffe, Leitner & Hiney [57] ABSTRACT Anintermittently operating wiper device wherein periodically andintermittently wiping operation is produced by adding a circuitcontaining: a) a lagging relay which is provided in a wiping mechanismintermittently activated by being heated and cooled by the intermissionof an adjustable heating current, and b) an intermittently wiping switchhaving ON, OFF contacts or ON contact, to a circuit having a wiper motorconnected to the well-known wiper switch, and an auto-stop relaycontrolled by said wiper motor. The invention also includes improvementsin the lagging relay used in said intermittently operating device.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures l F Tl 7b OFF HI 1 PM@ 'l70 H 2 in t I? ':9Wl 170 1 jjlllli" i r l6 l WIPER INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING DEVICE SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an intermittently 5operating wiper device for vehicles such as automobiles and the likeused in cases where continuous wiping is unnecessary as in drizzlingrains or mists, and more specifically to a wiper intermittentlyoperating device using a lagging relay which operates periodically andafter wiping a predetermined number of times, stops the wiperautomatically at a predetermined position.

With the known wiper device particularly in the case where continuouswiping of wiper is unnecessary as in drizzling rains or mists, thedriver has repeated such operations as turning on the wiper switch at adesired time to operate the wiper, after wiping once or twice with thewiper, turning off the wiper switch thereby to stop the wiper.Accordingly, the known device has involved a drawback that in drizzlingrains the operational frequency of wiper is too fast and requirescontinuous manual operation by the driver, thus causing an extremelydangerous driving condition.

It is, therefore, a first object of the present invention to provide anintermittently operating wiper device which eliminates the describeddrawback, the operation is so precise that it is periodically operatedby only turning the intermittently wiping switch on once, and it repeatsperiodical operation while said switch is on, and it is also inexpensive.in costs.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an intermittentlyoperating wiper device which can be easily attached to existing wipermechanism.

Other objects and characteristics of the present invention will beapparent from a few examples embodying the present invention illustratedhereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 are circuit diagrams respectively showing the the device to beused in the wiper mechanism circuit of switch system, and (B) that ofswitch system;

FIG. 2 are circuit diagrams respectively of the essential part showingthe second embodiment of the present invention, and (A) shows the deviceto be used in wiper mechanism circuit of switch system, and (B) that ofswitch system;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the first embodiment of theintermittently operating a lagging relay forming the essential part ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing switch system of the conventionalwiper mechanism to be attached to the essential part device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing switch system of the same;

FIG. 6 is a circuit showing the second embodiment of the intermittentlyoperating a lagging relay forming the essential part of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevation showing the essential part of therelay shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

FIGS. 1A & 1B show the first embodiment of the present invention, to benewly attached to the heretofore known wiper mechanism circuit of switchsystem of FIG. 4 and to the heretofore known wiper mechfirst embodimentof the present invention; (A) shows anism circuit of switch system ofFIG. 5, respectively. These additional devices are respectively composedof an intermittently wiping switch 11 having ON and OFF contacts and alagging relay 12. With respect to the lagging relay 12 detailedexplanation will be made hereinbelow in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. The deviceshown in the first embodiment of the present invention has a circuitsystem where the wiper operates when the intermittently wiping switch 11is turned on, simultaneously.

FIGS. 2 (A) and (B) are circuit diagrams respectively showing the secondembodiment of the additional device to be newly attached to the wipermechanism cir cuits of the conventional switch system and switch systemshown of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively, and both devices areconstituted by an intermittently wiping switch 11' having ON and OFFcontacts and a lagging relay 12. This is based on a circuit system wherethe wiper does not operate until the lagging relay 12 operates which isa predetermined period after the intermittently operating switch 11' isturned on,

Then, FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the lagging relay 12 used inthe present invention. A spring S made of a thin metal plate havingelasticity and capable of distortion, and heating wire H (or a heatingband) or tortion and separate from the contact S1 and comes into contactwith S2. When the heating wire H, the spring S reverses again andreturns to the original position. The expansion and contraction of theheating wire H is by the intermission of current to when S moves fromcontacts S1 to S2. The time it takes to move S from S1 to S2 by heatingand back again by cooling (lagging degree) are determined by adjustingthe current flowing to the heating wire H by the resistance R or thelike. Further, in the drawing reference numeral 13 designates a sourceconnecting terminal connected to the source.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are circuit diagrams of wiper mechanisms of and, switchsystems, respectively, said mechanisms are respectively connected toconnecting terminals A, B of the additional circuit shown in FIGS. 1 and2 through connecting terminals A, B. In the drawings, reference numeral14 designates a wiper motor capable of rotating at high or low speeds;15, a wiper switch capable of selecting turning OFF, Low and Hirotations of said wiper motor l4;'16, a source; 17, an auto-stop relaywhich interlocks with the wiper motor 14, and when the wiper brush (notshown) has reached a predetermined position of front glass, the movablemember 17a comes into contact with a contact 17b. Accordingly, whenwiping is not conducted by the wiper, the movable member 17a comes intocontact with 17b, and when wiping is conducted, it comes into contactwith a contact 170.

The operations of the device according to the present invention, havingthe above described structure will be explained hereinbelow with respectto the case of connecting the additional device of the first exampleshown in FIG. 1 (A) and FIG. 2 (A) to the wiper mechanism circuit ofswitch system shown in FIG. 2 (A) through connecting terminals A, B andHowever, the explanation on switch system involving FIG. 1B, 2B and 5will be omitted.

I. In the case where the continuous wiping of wiper is unnecessary as indrizzling rains and the like, intermittently operating switches 11, 11are turned on while the wiper switch is off. However, at the timecontinuous wiping is necessary, the method as heretofore may be used.

1. Upon this occasion, in the additional device of theembodiment shownin FIG. 1 (A) the current l shown by solid line flows from the sourceterminal 13 and begins to heat the heating wire H. Simultaneously, acurrent I shown by line with oneconsecutive-dot in FIG. 1 (A) and FIG. 4flows to actuate the wiper motor 14 via S, S1, A, A, 17a, 17b andground.

2. In the additional device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 (A) thecurrent I shown by solid line flows from the source terminal 13 andbegins to heat the heating wire H via S, S1, A, A, 17a, 17b and ground.However, upon this occasion, the current ['1 shown by line withone-con'secutive-dot flows from the source terminal 13, an the wipermotor l 4 does not operate because the resistance of the circuit fromground wiper motor 14 OFF contact of wiper switch 15 +contact terminalsB, is larger than the circuit from lagging relay contact S1 connectingterminals A, A auto-stop relay movable member 17a contact 170 ground.

II. When the heating wire H is heated with currents I, I and expanded,spring S reverses separates from contact S1 and comes into contact withcontact S2. Accordingly, v

I. In the additional device of FIG. 1(A), the current I is cut off.While H was heating up, motor 14 moved the wiper and consequently themovable nieTnber 17a into contact with the contacT flETA current 12shown by chain line with two con- 1 I is cut off, and the current Iflows through contact S2, spring S, connecting terminal B, B,

7 switch 15 off to actuate wiper motor 14.

- III. When the heating wire heating currents I, I are cut off, theheating wire H is cooled by ambient air and contracted, after lapse ofshort time the spring S reverse again, separates from contact S2 andcomes into contact with contact S1. Accordingly,

I. In the additional device of FIG. 1(A) assumes the state of] (l) andbegins to heat the heating wire H. 2. In the additional device of FIG.2(A), the current II is cut off but the movable member 17a of autostoprelay 17 comes into contact with the contact 170 simultaneously with theactuation of motor 14.

Therefore, a wiper motor operating current I2 flows, from source 16 via170, 17a, A, A, S1, B, B, 15 off" to wiper motor 14 which continues tooperate. When the movable member 17a of auto-stop relay 17 has come tothe contact 17b, the electromagnetic braking is applied and the motorstops its operation. Here the additional device returns back t o t h estate of I (2), and begins to heat the heating wire H.

The operations ofI to II] are repeated while the intermittentlyoperating switches 11, 11' are in the on position thereby to operate thewiper periodically.

As has been explained in the foregoing, the effects of the presentinvention are given as follows:

1. Because of the combination of lagging relay and switch it is cheaperthan when the motor is used.

2. It can be easily fitted in the already existing car.

3. Even in drizzling rains or the like, it is enough only to operateonce the intermittently wiping switch, and therefore it is safe indriving vehicles.

Then, the second embodiment of intermittently lagging relay which formsthe essential part of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 6 and 7. The intermittently lagging relay of the firstembodiment explained with respect to FIG. 3 has the followingdisadvantages in the case where it is used for small number of wiping,for example, from 1 to 4 times in a minute:

1. It is necessary to strengthen the tension of heating wire H andincrease clearance S1 S2 between contacts and prolong the time untilreversion, and therefore a large force is applied to the heating wire H,and the heating wire H discontinues or the heating wire H is elongatedas it is, and is inoperated. That is, durability is deteriorated.

2. It is necessary to reduce the current flowing to the heating wire Hand prolong the time until the elongation of heating wire H, and uponthis occasion, it is liable to produce insufficiency in the" elongationof the heating wire H, and invite winkering unstability and functionaldeterioration.

The lagging relay of the second embodiment of embodying the presentinvention is intended to eliminate the aforementioned drawback. In FIGS.6 and 7, reference numeral 21 designates a heat expansion element suchas a bimetal or a heating band or the like, bosses 21a, 21b at both endsof said member being hooked with upper and lower hooking member 22, 23;24, a heating wire which insulated and wound around said heat expansionelement 21; S, a movable spring one end of which is supported by a lowerpart hooking member 23 and another end of which has a movable contact C,and said spring S alternating between contacts 8'1 and S'2.

The lagging relay of the second embodiment having the aformentionedstructure is different from the first example in that a current directlyflows through the extending heating wire H, and said heating wire Hitself does not extend by the generated heat due to said resistance.More specifically, heating wire 24 wound around the periphery of heatexpansion element 21 indirectly heats said heat expansion element 21 andcauses it to elongate to reverse .the movable spring S and switches fromcontacts 81 to S2.

The extension of heat expansion element 21 is deter mined depending uponthe current flowing in the heat ing wire 24 (since bimetal member orheating band is large in sectional area as compared with the heatingwire 24, heating is determined by the current flowing in the heatingwire 24) and accordingly, the current is independently selected and theoperation time can be selected by the widthof heat expansion element 21par ticularly in a low range.

The device of the second embodiment explained in the foregoing has thefollowing large effects as a lagging relay for operating the wiperintermittently.

l. Since a bimetal member or a heating band is used as a heat expansionelement, the strength is sufficient and durability is elevated.

2. Since it is a side heating type, the current necessary for heatingcan be sufficiently supplied.

The present invention has been explained with reference to a fewexamples. It will be understood, however, that other examples may bepossible and a number of modifications in dimensional ratio andarrangement of each part may be possible without departing from thespirit of the present invention as shown in the following claims.

We claim:

1. An intermittently operating wiper device for use in combination witha wiper system having a power source, a wiper motor connected to a firstside of said power source; a wiper on-off switch having a first offcontact connected in series with said motor; and an auto-stop switchmeans having a first contact connected to said sources first side, asecond contact connected to a second side of said source, and a firstmember having a first end movable between said first and second contactsin response to the movement of a wiper, said device comprising:

an intermittently wiping switch having an on contact connected to saidsecond side of said source, an of contact connected to a first terminal,and a second member having a first end movable between said on and ofcontacts;

a lagging relay having a first contact connected to a second end of saidsecond movable member, a second contact connected to said first terminaland of contact, a third movable member having a first end connected to asecond terminal and having a second end movable between lagging relaysfirst and second contacts, and a heating wire and a resistance in seriesconnected between said third movable members first end and said firstside of said source;

said first terminal being connected to a second end of said firstmovable member and said second terminal being connected to a second offcontact of said wiper on-off switch;

said third member moves in response to activationdeactivation of saidheating wire to cause intermittent operation of said wiper motor.

2. An intermittently operating wiper device for use in combination witha wiper system having a power source, a wiper motor connected to a firstside of said power source; a wiper on-off switch having a first offcontact connected in series with said motor; and an auto-stop switchmeans having a first contact connected to said sources first side, asecond contact connected to a second side of said source, and a firstmember having a-first end movable between said first and second contactsin response to the movement of a wiper, said device comprising:

an intermittently wiping switch having one side connected to said secondside of said source;

a lagging relay having a first contact connected to said sources secondside, a second contact connected to a first terminal, a second memberhaving a first end connected to a second terminal and a second endmovable between said lagging relays first and second contacts, a heatingwire and resistance in series connected between said second movablemembers first end and the other side of said intermittent switch;

said first terminal being connected to a second end of said firstmovable member and said second terminal being connected to a second offcontact of said wiper on-off switch;

said second member moves in response to activationdeactivation of saidheating wire to cause intermittent operation of said wiper motor.

3. An intermittently operating wiper device comprising:

a power source;

- wiper motor connected to a first side of said power source; wiperon-off switch having an input terminal of the of position connectedtosaid wiper motor;

heating element connected between an output terminal of said wiperswitch off position and said sources first side;

thermal switch means responsive to said heating element having inputterminal connected to said output terminal of said wiper switch offposition,

and first and second output terminals; intermittent on-off switchconnected between said thermal switch means first output terminal and asecond side of said power source; and

auto-stop switch means reponsive to the position of said wiper havinginput terminal connected to said thermal switch means second outputterminal, first output terminal connected to said sources first side,and second output terminal connected to said sources second side;

said heating element and said thermal switch means determine the periodof intermittence.

4. A device as in claim 3 including a variable resistor means in serieswith said heating element for varying said intermittent period.

5. An intermittently operating wiper device comprising:

a power source;

wiper motor connected to a first side of said power source; wiper on-offswitch having an input terminal of the off position connected to saidwiper motor;

intermittent on-off switch having an input terminal connected to secondside of said power source and an output terminal;

heating element connected between an output terminal of said wiperswitch of position and said intermittent switch output terminal;

thermal switch means responsive to said heating element having inputterminal connected to said output terminal of said wiper switch offposition, and first and second output terminals; and auto-stop switchmeans responsive to the position of said wiper having input terminalconnected to said thermal switch means second output terminal, firstoutput terminal connected to said sources first side, and second outputterminal connected to said sources second side, said heating element andsaid thermal switch means determine period of inter mittence.

6. A device as in claim 5 including a variable resistor means in serieswith said heating element for varying said intermittent period.

1. An intermittently operating wiper device for use in combination witha wiper system having a power source, a wiper motor connected to a fiRstside of said power source; a wiper onoff switch having a first offcontact connected in series with said motor; and an auto-stop switchmeans having a first contact connected to said sources first side, asecond contact connected to a second side of said source, and a firstmember having a first end movable between said first and second contactsin response to the movement of a wiper, said device comprising: anintermittently wiping switch having an ''''on'''' contact connected tosaid second side of said source, an ''''off'''' contact connected to afirst terminal, and a second member having a first end movable betweensaid ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' contacts; a lagging relay having a firstcontact connected to a second end of said second movable member, asecond contact connected to said first terminal and ''''off'''' contact,a third movable member having a first end connected to a second terminaland having a second end movable between lagging relay''s first andsecond contacts, and a heating wire and a resistance in series connectedbetween said third movable member''s first end and said first side ofsaid source; said first terminal being connected to a second end of saidfirst movable member and said second terminal being connected to asecond off contact of said wiper on-off switch; said third member movesin response to activation-deactivation of said heating wire to causeintermittent operation of said wiper motor.
 2. An intermittentlyoperating wiper device for use in combination with a wiper system havinga power source, a wiper motor connected to a first side of said powersource; a wiper on-off switch having a first off contact connected inseries with said motor; and an auto-stop switch means having a firstcontact connected to said sources first side, a second contact connectedto a second side of said source, and a first member having a first endmovable between said first and second contacts in response to themovement of a wiper, said device comprising: an intermittently wipingswitch having one side connected to said second side of said source; alagging relay having a first contact connected to said source''s secondside, a second contact connected to a first terminal, a second memberhaving a first end connected to a second terminal and a second endmovable between said lagging relay''s first and second contacts, aheating wire and resistance in series connected between said secondmovable member''s first end and the other side of said intermittentswitch; said first terminal being connected to a second end of saidfirst movable member and said second terminal being connected to asecond off contact of said wiper on-off switch; said second member movesin response to activation-deactivation of said heating wire to causeintermittent operation of said wiper motor.
 3. An intermittentlyoperating wiper device comprising: a power source; wiper motor connectedto a first side of said power source; wiper on-off switch having aninput terminal of the ''''off'''' position connected to said wipermotor; heating element connected between an output terminal of saidwiper switch ''''off'''' position and said sources first side; thermalswitch means responsive to said heating element having input terminalconnected to said output terminal of said wiper switch ''''off''''position, and first and second output terminals; intermittent on-offswitch connected between said thermal switch means'' first outputterminal and a second side of said power source; and auto-stop switchmeans reponsive to the position of said wiper having input terminalconnected to said thermal switch means'' second output terminal, firstoutput terminal connected to said source''s first side, and secondoutput terminal connected to said source''s second side; said heatingelement and said thermal switch means determine the period ofintermittence.
 4. A device as in clAim 3 including a variable resistormeans in series with said heating element for varying said intermittentperiod.
 5. An intermittently operating wiper device comprising: a powersource; wiper motor connected to a first side of said power source;wiper on-off switch having an input terminal of the ''''off'''' positionconnected to said wiper motor; intermittent on-off switch having aninput terminal connected to second side of said power source and anoutput terminal; heating element connected between an output terminal ofsaid wiper switch ''''off'''' position and said intermittent switchoutput terminal; thermal switch means responsive to said heating elementhaving input terminal connected to said output terminal of said wiperswitch ''''off'''' position, and first and second output terminals; andauto-stop switch means responsive to the position of said wiper havinginput terminal connected to said thermal switch means'' second outputterminal, first output terminal connected to said source''s first side,and second output terminal connected to said source''s second side, saidheating element and said thermal switch means determine period ofintermittence.
 6. A device as in claim 5 including a variable resistormeans in series with said heating element for varying said intermittentperiod.